The UK high street has seen an unexpected fall in sales, as retailers suffered a 0.6% fall in sales between December and January.

The figures were in contrast to predictions that sales would bounce back, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

The ONS said the icy conditions hit many smaller food shops, with some forced to close as snow blanketed parts of Britain, pushing food sales volumes down 1.6%.

The figures will reignite fears that the UK economy is on course for a triple-dip recession after the first estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) in the final three months of last year showed the economy contracted.